The axolotl, otherwise known as a Mexican walking fish, was judged the third ugliest animal in the world. Photo: Joe Armao

The blobfish's reward is to be enshrined as the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (http://uglyanimalsoc.com), a loose association of stand-up comedians who humorously champion endangered but visually unappealing species.

"The Ugly Animal Preservation Society is dedicated to raising the profile of some of Mother Nature's more aesthetically challenged children," it says on its website.